Morning journal and courier., 1887-06-18

holds out the olive branch to the world as
signal that we bear malice towards none, and
that the gray and blue are blended into the
golden hue of lasting brotherhood. To-day
New Haven consecrates this monument to
the memory of her soldiers and sailors who
offered their lives to establish, defend and
maintain Republic. All engaged in the
first, and nearly all of those engaged in the
two succeeding wars, have been mustered in
to the unknown service. We have with US,
thank heaven, many who took part In the
last conflict, and while this column tells of
their heroic deeds, may it be many years be-
fore it hallows their memory.
A word about the Inscriptions representing
the last war. We have been asked why
names of other battles were not selected;
Gettysburg of course has not been criticised.
Connecticut had troops in the Army of the
Potomac. the Department of the Gulf and the
Department of the South. 1t was the desire
of the committee that each department
should be represented. OF course Gettysburg
was selected for the Army of the Potomac,
for in that battle were the Second Light Bat
terry, the Fifth, Fourteenth, Seventeenth,
Twentieth and Twenty-seVentn regiments
infantry; how well they did their duty his
tory has recorded. In the Department of
the Gulf our Ninth, Twelfth, Thirteenth,
Twenty third, Twenty-fourth, Twenty-ffth,
Twenty sixth and Twenty eighth did noble
service, and nearly all were engaged in the
three reasons for inscribing thereon Fort
Fisher. First, the navy took active part;
second, our First Artillery, Sixth and Seventh
Infantry were engaged in its reduction. Last
but not least. one who to-day wears the stars
of major general in the United States army,
New Ravens own illustrious Terry, COM
manded at and won the battle. These sre
our reasons for the inscriptions.
The duties of your committee are about
concluded Pardon me if I add word. To
me this monument represents more than a
commemoration of deeds and men. In its
silence it tells of suffering in hospital and
prison, of hardships and privations. 1t marks
not the resting place of our heroes who gave
their lives, but tells of the sacrifice of all,
whether they sleep in our swn beautiful
cemeteries beside their kindred, or in I'M
known graves in the consecrated acres of the
nation. Let it stand here as loyal sentinel
for the living, and from this eminence
they look upon yonder beautiful city, there
is this lesson to be taught, that there was a
time when the smith laid aside the hammer,
the artisan his implements, when the pen
was dropped for the sword, when the student
in yonder university closed his book, and all
met upon equal footing and rallied under the
blue banner of Connecticut with true loyalty
to the State, swore allegiance to the Union,
and under the national ensign went forth to
battle for the best government upon earth.
1t will stand as guide to the mariners upon
yonder waters, and ever remind them of the
devotion of the sailor to the cause of Liberty
and Union. Loyal mothers and sisters will
come to this shrine and teach the young the
history of their country, from Bunker Hill
to Appomattox, inspiring them with that
womanly devotion and manly courage that
have in the past proved the salvation of our
country.
And now, gentlemen, to you, the chosen
representatives of the town of New Haven, !
present in behalf of the committee the re-
suit of our labors. As star after star is add
ed to the galaxy of the national ensign, let
not the price paid for creating and maintain
ing the nation be forgotten; and when they
who have sought our shores try to inoculate
our American system of government with
the poison virus of liberty without law, let
this monument ever be reminder to ou1
people that such state would be worse than
despotism. Accept then this sacred trust
let it be guarded and cared for with the same
fidelity that they whose memory it commem-
crates guarded and cared for the honor of
their country in those terrible struggles
where New Ravens patriots bore SO conspic-
uous a part.
1t devolved upon Selectman Louis Field
man to receive the monument, which he did
in these words: